Braiding machine



April 8, 1941.

w. c. WRIGHT 2,237,858

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l 3nnentor: WILL/AM C WRIGHT atwm Gttornegg April 8, 1941. wf W I HT 2.237.858

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 4% 87 V 9 I w 402 Egg. y I

ZSmaentorI WILL/HM C WEIGHT aifw m,

attornegs Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATE rarer BRAIDING MACHINE William C. Vl right, Granite Falls, N. (1., assignor to Samson Cordage Works, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 9, 1340, Serial No. 356,014

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a braiding machine and more especially to one equipped with a combined oil circulating system and lint cleansing means. As -a general rule, braiding machines employ very short staple cotton or other material for making ropes, cords and the like. As a result, there is a very heavy fall of lint, or loose fibers onto and into the machine. This waste not only presents an unsightly spectacle, but also presents a serious obstacle to healthful working conditions Within the mill. Furthermore, the lint eventually accumulates in balls and clogs up the moving parts of the machine, making it expensive to clean and otherwise adversely affecting its operation.

The construction of most braiding machines is such that quite a number of moving parts are essential. These moving parts include suitable flyers, which are directed in a very irregular path.

By so directing the flyers, it is possible to produce I the proper braiding effect; however, there is a very' decided amount of frictional engagement due to the abrupt turning of the flyers at certain times. Such a construction, therefore, makes it very essential that the proper lubricating system be provided so that the parts will operate with a minimum of wear and friction and also with a minimum amount of noise.

It is an object of this invention to provide a from the surfaces of the machine as it accumula tes. This system is equipped with a suitable filtering mechanism which cleanses the fluid before it is recirculated over the machine surfaces. Although many suitable fluids may be employed for the'purpose of removing the lint, it is preferable to use a lubricant, such as oil, so that the dual, function of cleansing and lubrication will be simultaneously performed. 5

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved yarn carrier for the braiding machine Which has means for supporting a yarn package during a braiding operation, which package has a strand emanating therefrom and leading to the material which is being braided such as a rope or the like. This improved carrier has means for maintaining a substantially constant tension on the strand at all times, as it is fed from the package. with this carrier for releasing this tension applying means so that the package can be freely rotated reversely or forwardly when desired. For example, when a strand becomes broken and it is necessary to provide additional slack in the Also means are connected strand for tying purposes, hence the package must be reversely rotated a small amount.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved carrier of the class described which has means operated by the strand emanating from the package, for automatically applying the le'toff mechanism when a predetermined amount of tension has been applied to the strand. When the let-cit control is placed in an inoperative position so that a broken strand can be tied,

it is only necessary to turn the package reversely until a predetermined tension is applied to the mended strand and this tension will automatically place the let-oft mechanism in operation.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a braiding machine made in accordance with the present invention, with certain portions thereof broken away and other portions thereof shown in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through an improved carrier employed in the present inventlon and taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along the lines 3-43 in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional detail view taken along the line t4 in Figure 2';

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to the lower portion of Figure l, showing the means for latching the tension let-oil mechout of operative position;

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken along the line Ei-ii in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 1-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan View through the pump mechanism and taken along the line 8-8 in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken. along the line 5-4) in Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral iii denotes a housing for a braiding machine, said housing having a hollow post ll secured to th central portion thereof by any suitable means such as screws H2. The hub member it is rotatably mounted around the post H and this hub has radially disposed prongs I! extending therefrom. The outer ends of these prongs other words, the members It and H serve as a uniting bar to caus the members 20 and 2| to rotate as a unit about the post II. In order to reduce the friction between the hub member l6 and the post H, suitable ball bearings l4 and ii are provided.

The member 2| is a large gear disposed near the lower portion of the housing l2 and operates the carriers during a braiding operation to cause them to travel in a predetermined path. This gear 2| is secured around the lower portion of the hub I6, and the teeth therein mesh with a gear 25, which gear is rotatably mounted around a vertically disposed spindle 26 (Figures 1 and 7). The hub of the gear 25 has a beveled gear 21 fixedly secured thereon. This gear meshes with another beveled gear 28 on shaft 29 (see Figure 1), said shaft being rotatably mounted in a bearing 30, which in turn extends to the exterior of the housing l0.

Upon the projecting end of bearing 39, a suitable loose pulley 32 is rotatably mounted and upon the projecting end of shaft 29 a fixed pulley 33 is mounted alongside pulley 32. Also a hand wheel 34 is mounted on the end of shaft 29. A suitable belt, not shown, is adapted to be placed on the fixed pulley when the machine is in operation. This belt may be shifted to the loose pulley 32 when desired, to stop the braiding machine, but at the same time allow the belt and the driving means therefor to continue operating. It is, therefore, seen that when the fixed pulley 33 is in motion, the members 29, 28, 21, 25 and 2| will rotate.

The upper portion of the gear 2| has a plurality of studs 31 threadably secured therein, each of the studs being disposed on a common circle whose center is post H, which post is the axis of rotation of the gear. Each of the studs 31 has a sleeve 38 mounted therearound, said sleeve having integral with the upper end thereof, a cam 39. Rotatably mounted around the sleeve 38 is a horn gear 40 which has a plurality of notches 4| in the periphery thereof. This horn gear is secured to the lower face of a pinion or gear 5|, which meshes with the teeth in a ring gear 52, said ring gear being secured to the inner wall of the housing I by any suitable means such as bolts 54. Suitable notches 42 are cut in the periphery of gear for coinciding with notches 40 in the horn gear.

The bolt 54 also slidably penetrates an exteriorly threaded sleeve 55. This sleeve 55 is threadably secured in a top ring 55 which is disposed directly above the ring gear 52. The purpose of providing the threaded sleeve 55 isto facilitate easy adjustment of the elevation of the top ring 55. It is evident that it will be necessary to turn the sleeve 55 so as to vary the distance the lower end thereof projects beneath the plate 56. Since the lower end of the sleeve 55 rests on top of the annular internal gear 52, the height or elevation of the top plate will be determined by this proj ecting portion.

Each of the studs 3! forms a center for a circular groove 60 in the top surface of gear plate 2|. The groove 60 is adapted to accommodate a crescent shaped projection 5| on the lower end of a carrier assembly broadly designated by the reference character 62. The groove 60 also communicates with a circular groove 63 in gear plate 2| which has its center about the post During a braiding operation, the projections 6| are adapted to travel in grooves 60 and 63 so that the proper motion will be imparted to the fiyer to effect a braiding operation. This movement of the flyers is generally known in the trade although so far as I am aware the specific arrangement of the parts and the specific structure employed for performing this movement is new.

The crescent-shaped projection 6| has integral with the upper portion thereof, a rounded portion 56. This rounded portion is adapted to travel directly above the groove 63, and as it approaches the groove 60, it is engaged by one of the horns 68 of the horn gear 45. Between the horns 88, the notch 4| is formed which accommodates this rounded portion. The coinciding notch 42 in gear 5| simultaneously receives the rounded portion. While in these notches, the rounded portion, along with the carrier is caused to follow the groove 60 until it again emerges into the groove 63, where it is deposited in one of the notches E9 in the ring gear 52.

While the flyer 62 is rotating about the stud 31, the plate or gear 2| together with studs 31, horn gears ii], top plate 20, gears 5| are bodily rotating about the upstanding post II as an axis. It should be noted, however, that the rounded portion 56 of each of the flyers is adapted to rest in the notches 69 in the inner face of the ring gear 52, when it is not following groove 60. By observing Figure 1, it will be seen that there are twelve equally spaced notches 69 in the ring gear 52, therefore, during the operation of the machine, two-thirds of the carrier 62 are adapted to be arrested by the notches 69 while the other one-third of the carriers are being rotated around the groove 50. In other words, the horn gear 40 and pinion 5| rotate a carrier around the groove 55) and then deposit it in one of the notches 69 in the ring gear. Then the horn picks up another carrier which is in a notch 59 and causes this carrier to be rotated about this same groove as in the previous case. In the present embodiment of the invention, there are four sets of carriers with three fiyers per set. The operation of each set is identical. In other words, there are always two carriers idle while the third carrier is in motion.

Disposed directly above the rounded portion 55 of each carrier is a laterally extending flange it, which flange is adapted to slide beneath'top plate 23 and top ring 55 in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 7. Adjoining the flange and extending upwardly therefrom, substantially in alinement with portions 6| and 56, is a second crescent-shaped portion 7|, this crescent shaped portion being adapted to operate in annular groove 12 which is provided between the top ring 56 and the top plate 20. Groove 12 has its center about the axis of rotation of plate 20, namely post The groove i2 communicates with smaller circular grooves 73 which are disposed between the peripheries of cam 39 and the top plate 20. The crescent-shaped portion 1| is similar to the crescent-shaped portion 6| and operates substantially in the same manner in grooves 72 and i3 as the portion 6| operates in the grooves and 63. The upper part of the crescent-shaped portion 12 has a laterally extending base it, upon which is bolted a bracket member ll. Bracket 77 is secured to the base it by any suitable means such as stud bolts 18 (see Figure 2). Both the base 16 and the bracket 11 are flush bottom so that a fiat surface will slide upon the upper surface of top ring 56 and top plate 20. Due to the fact that there is considerable contact surface between the carrier assembly 62 and the operating parts it stands to reason that ample lubrication should be provided in order to prevent excessive wear.

The bracket 11 of the flyer assembly 62 has a pipe 89 extending upwardly therefrom, which pipe forms a spindle around which a second pipe 9! is adapted to rotate. This second pipe has a disk 82 secured to the lower portion thereof, said disk having upstanding projections 83 for fitting into notches 84 of spools 85. Around the spool 85, suitable cordage, yarn, or other strand material 96 is adapted to be wound. The strands emanating from these packages are designated by reference character 81.

It will be noted by referring to Figures 2 to 6 inclusive that the disk 82 has a circular row of teeth 89 on the upperside thereof. The purpose of these teeth is to accommodate the pointed end 89a of a dog 89, which dog is pivoted as at 99 to bracket 11. The end of dog remote from end 89a is normally pushed upwardly, by means of a suitable collar 9| and a compression spring 92. This compression spring normally tends to hold the pointed end 89a of the dog 89 yieldingly in engagement with the teeth 89 of the ratchet and thereby offer a resistance to the let-ofi of the strand 81 from the package 89.

The spring 92 and the collar M are mounted around a vertically disposed pin 93, said pin having a ball 94 on the lower end thereof which is anchored in the bracket 11 (Figure 3). This ball permits a limited universal movement of the upper end of the pin 93, and since the dog 99 swings about the pivot 99, it is seen that cer tain amount of lateral movement of the upper end of pin 93 will be necessary to prevent binding. The upper end of the pipe 9|, as well as the upper end of spool 95 is held in position by means of a suitable arm 95. This arm has integral therewith a projection 99 which fits downwardly into the upper end of the pipe BI. The other end of arm 95 is pivotally secured to the upper portion of a second pipe 99, said second pipe having its lower end secured to the bracket 11. The members 95 and 99 serve to support the top of the spool 85 to prevent tilting while in operation.

The pivotal connection for the arm 95 comprises a bolt I99, extending downwardly into pipe 99 from the arm, said bolt having a head I9I on the lower end thereof which also fits on the interior of the pipe. The belt I99 slidably penetrates a washer I92, secured in the upper end of the pipe 99 by any suitable means such as a screw I93. A spring I94 is disposed around the bolt I99 between the head portion HH and the washer I92, so that the arm 95 will normally be pulled downwardly at all times to bold line position as shown in Figure 2. When it is desired to insert or remove the spool 95 on the pipe Bl it is only necessary to raise the arm 95 to dotted line position as shown in Figure 2. and then impart rotative movement to the free end thereof. thus providing ample space for inserting or removing a package of yarn around the pipe 8|. This type of construction enables the let-off to be controlled from the lower side of the package of yarn and also permits the let-off mechanism to be entirely independent from the spool 85. In other words, the conventional spool 85 can be employed with this type of mechanism without making any changes therein.

The strand 81 which emanates from the package of yarn or other material 86 passes around the pipe 99 in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 7 and then into engagement with a suitable yarn guide member 98, fixedly secured around the pipe 99. The strand then passes downwardly beneath a grooved circular guide I99, which is secured to a vertically disposed rod I I0, said rod being mounted for vertical sliding movement in the lower portion of pipe 99.

The grooved member I99 has integral therewith, a ilat elongated projection I99a, which is adapted to slidably penetrate a vertically disposed slot 99a in pipe 99. The base of the proiecting portion I99a fits into a groove of keyway II5, cut lengthwise in the shaft II 9. This groove has varying depths for reasons which will hereinafter be described. In order to secure the member I99 to the pipe or rod H9, at suitable screw III is employed.

The rod H9 has a restricted portion II6 extending upwardly therefrom and within the hollow pipe 99. The upper end of this restricted portion slidably penetrates a washer In, said washer being fixedly secured in the pipe by any suitable means such as screw IIB. In order to limit the downward movement of the restricted portion H6, and the rod 9, a suitable collar H9 is provided on the upper end of restricted portion H9 at a point above Washer II I. Also disposed around the restricted portion II6 between rod H9 and washer H1 is a compression spring I29 for normally forcing the rod II9 downwardly within the pipe 99 until collar II9 engages fixed washer Ill. The tension in strand 9?, however, normally, compresses the spring I29 and causes the portion H9 to be disposed a substantial distance above fixed collar II'I.

By observing Figure 5, it will be seen that the grooved member I99 has a notch IZI in the lower edge thereof, said notch being adapted to be engaged by prong 99b of dog 89. In the bold line position as shown in Figure 5, the upper end of the prong 89b rests in the notch I2I and thereby holds the member 89 in tilted position, so that the end 89a will not engage the teeth 98. With the members 89 and 89b in the tilted position as shown in Figure 5, the teeth 88, disk 82, spool and yarn package 89 are'free to rotate about the pipe 89; therefore, the strand 8'! which emanates from the package 86 can be wound or unwound therefrom as desired, without any resistance being oirered. Although the spring 92 (Figure 3) has a tendency to rotate the latched dog '89 in a clockwise manner in Figure 5 to cause the dog point 89a to engage teeth 88, this rotation will not take place because of the peculiar shape of notch I2l. However, it should be noted that when the grooved member I99 and its associated notch I 2| are lifted slightly upwardly by the tension in strand 91, the spring 9917 will be released from the notch and thereafter the member 99 will resume the dotted line position as shown in Figure 5 due to the upward pressure ofthe compression spring 92 (Figure 3).

As heretofore stated, the strand 8? passes from package 86 around pipe 99, then downwardly through groove I 99a in guide member I98, then around the under side of grooved member I99, then upwardly again through groove l99a and then through eyelet I29 in member 99. From the eyelet I29, the strand 8'! passes to bracket I28, said bracket having a hole I28 in its central portion through which a finished braided rope or cord I29 is adapted to pass. The rope comprises a plurality of strands 91 which emanate from carriers 62. These strands are braided around a center strand I30, said center strand being adapted to pass upwardly through the center of post III. This post is provided with a suitable pipe I3I in the central portion thereof for the accommodation of this center strand. During operation of the machine, this center strand passes at the proper speed upwardly while the strands 81 are being braided therearound, thereby encasing the same within the tubular fabric to form a cord or rope.

The bracket I28 is supported by a rod I33 which rod is slidably and adjustably mounted in lug I34 by any suitable means such as set screw I35. Lug I34 forms an integral part of an inverted L-shaped bracket I36, the lower end of said bracket being secured to the housing I0. After the rope I29 has been braided, it passes around suitable rollers I31 and I38 which are mounted upon shafts I39 and I40, respectively. Shafts I39 and I40 have pinions MI and I42, respectively, mounted thereon, said pinions being connected to each other by means of an intermediate pinion I43. Another roller I44 is provided which rests directly upon the braided rope I29 and above the roller I38, so that the necessary gripping action will be effected. This roller I44 is positively driven through the medium of gears I43, I45 and I46.

A train of gears, namely, I41, I40, I49, I and I5I are connected to the gear I42. Gear I5I meshes with a suitable worm I53 on the up per end of a vertically disposed shaft I54, said shaft I54 extending downwardly on the interior of the housing I0, and having fixedly secured on the lower end thereof, a gear I55. This gear I55 meshes with gear- 25, previously described. It is therefore seen that as the fixed pulley 33 is rotated, 'in Figure 1, that the cord or braided rope I29 will be positively drawn upwardly through the medium of the parts indicated by reference characters I31 to I55 inclusive.

One of the very important features in the improved type of carrier, is the means for latching and unlatching the let-off means out of and in operation respectively, so that the package of yarn or c'ordage 86 can be rotated in the desired direction without any obstruction. For example, let us suppose that one of the strands 81 becomes broken and it is necessary to have additional slack in order to tie the two broken 86 to rotate to let-off additional length. When 7 rotated in this manner, the pointed end 89a on the dog 89 will ratchet over the teeth 88 thereby causing a greater length of strand 81 to be available at a point beyond the eyelet I22. After the strand has been tied in, there is an excess of slack and it is then desired to rewind the slack portion back upon the package 86 so that the proper tension will be present. In order to do this, it is necessary to press upon the lefthand end of the dog 89, and cause it"to move from the dotted line position, as shown in Figure 5, to the bold line position at which time the lower edge of portion I09a of the grooved member I09 will be engaged to thereby move the members I09 and H0 upwardly a slight amount against the downward pressure of spring I20 After a very slight upward movement the free end of the prong 8% will fall into the notch I21 and become latched in this position. At

thisv time, the point 89a will be disengaged and the operator can turn the package 86 in the proper direction to cause the slack strand 81 to be wound back upon the package.

When the braiding machine is started in operation and when a predetermined amount of tension has been created in the re-tied strand, the members I09 and I I0 will be pulled slightly upwardly, thereby releasing the free end of prong b to allow the spring 92 to force the pointed end 89a into engagement with teeth 88, after which the let-off means for the package is in operation.

During the operation of the carrier there is sufficient tension in the strand 81 to cause the rod I I9, restricted portion H6 and members II9 to be slightly elevated so that portion H9 will be disposed a substantial distance above collar II1. In fact, the members H0, H6 and H9 reciprocate up and down in pipe 99 during the rotation of the carrier, so that there will not be any slack between eyelet I26 and hole I28a (see Figure '1). When a strand 81 breaks the tension is released and as a consequence, the spring 520 will force members IIO and H9 downwardly until portion II9 engages stationary collar II 1. When in this lowermost position, the lower end of rod IIO will engage a stop motion, not shown, to stop the machine. The foregoing description relates to a braiding machine of the circular orbit type.

Another very essential part of the invention is the dirt, dust and lint removing means for keeping the exposed surfaces of the braiding machine free from these substances. In the present embodiment of the invention, I have devised anv oil circulating system which will spray the oil upon the top portions of the braiding machine and keep the lint and waste removed as fast as it accumulates. In addition to the fact that the lint and waste will be removed, there is the added advantage of having the oil continuously lubricate all of the parts while the machine is running, thereby causing the machine to operate with greater efiiciency, less wear on the parts and less noise.

The housing I0 is provided with a pair of wells I60 and Ifil which wells are adapted to receive a suitable lubricant or other cleansing fluid I02. The lower end of these wells all connect by means of a pipe I03. In order to provide a suitable outlet for this oil when draining the wells, suitable plugs I94 and I95 are provided in the lower ends of Wells I60 and IIiI respectively. The upper end of well I GI is open and communicates with the interior of the housing III by way of opening I66 (see Figure 9). The oil which drains from the moving parts within the housing I0 passes through the opening I63 and downwardly into the well I 6|.

A suitable filter IE1 is disposed in theupper portion of the well IEI so that any impurities such as lint, dirt, dust, filings and grit which have been collected by the oil, as it passes through the machine, will be retained thereby allowing the oil to pass to the bottom of the well IBI and then through pipe I53 into the well I90.

Well I60 has a pump housing I10 disposed therein (see Figures '1, 8 and 9) the lower portion of said housing being closed by a nut I12. A block I13 is adapted to fit inside housing I10, said block having gears I14, and I15 fitting therein and being adapted to mesh with each other. The extremities of the teeth of the gears assists I'M and I I press snugly against the interior bore in which these pinions are located in a well known manner. Leading into the block I13 is an intake port I16 which permits the oil or other fiuid to be drawn from the lower portion of well 50 to the interior of the block and into contact with the teeth of gears Ill and I15. As the gears turn, the oil is carried around to a suitable outlet port III which expels the oil into the interior of casing I'Ill.

It will be noted by referring to Figure '7, that a shaft I19 extends. upwardly from the gear I and within a. restricted portion II0a. of housing lit. This restricted portion encases the shaft I75 so that a proper annular clearance 18! will exist between the shaft and the interior of the restricted portion to permit a fiow of oil therethrough. The upper end of the shaft H9, however, is enlarged as at I'IBa, thereby completely filling up the upper end of the restricted portion IIllct so as to prevent the oil from escaping from the upper end. Upon the upper portion of the shaft I'I9a, a pinion I8!) is secured, which pinion meshes with gear I55 previously described, which furnishes the driving means for the gear pump.

Communicating with the upper portion of clearance I8! around the pipe I19, is one end of a pipe I82. The other end of said pipe leads to an annular bore I83 which is disposed between post II and pipe I3l (see Figure '7). The upper end of the annular bore I83 has leading therefrom a plurality of radially disposed nozzles I84 for directing the fluid which is under pressure within the pipe 82 and within the bore I83 out upon 2 the top plate so that the lint and other waste which accumulates thereon will be washed away during the operation of the machine. Since the carriers 62 substantially follow the grooves 12 and i3, between the plates 20 and 55, it is seen that the bracket portion II will sweep a considerable surface thereof free from the Waste. Especially is this true if there is an oil film disposed thereover. In additionto thelint removing factor, there is an added advantage of having filtered oil circulate and recirculate through the machine at all times. Some of the oil which is expelled on the top plate 20 is transferred to the top of plate by the movement of the carriers and thereafter is allowed to pass downwardly among the moving parts of the machine to lubricate the same, after which the oil fiows out of housing ID through opening I66, and downwardly through filter I61 into well I6I. The well I has a cover I'I8 to prevent the return of unfiltered oil to this Well.

In order to vary the force at which the oil is expelled through nozzles I84 into the members 20 and 56, a suitable outflow pipe I95 is provided, said pipe having a petcock ISI disposed on the upper end thereof which may be turned to the desired angle to permit portions of the oil which is forced upwardly into this pipe to escape into the housing It. In other words, the degree to which the petcock I9I is opened, will determine the amount of pressure which is present in the pipe line I82. If it is desired to have a minimum amount of oil pressure at the nozzles I84, then the petcock I9I will be opened the maximum amount to allow a greater portion of the oil which has been forced through the oil pump to escape before it reaches nozzles I84.

Another very important factor in this invention is the position and function served by the disk member 52. This member not only serves as a means for supporting the ratchet teeth 85 to serve as a let-off mechanism, but also serves as a shield for protecting the lower portion of the yarn package 86 from the oil which is expelled from the nozzles I84. Since the nozzles are located at a lower elevation than the disk 82, it is seen that the expelled oil will not in any way gain ac cess to the yarn thereabove.

By actual tests, the above described lubrication and cleansing system has been found to materially decrease the noise, the wear of parts and the operating costs. Furthermore, the parts are so positioned in the machine that the oil will fall by gravity on all wearing parts within the housing I0 after it has been expelled from nozzles I84 thereabove, thus insuring proper lubrication without the necessity of having an extensive piping arrangement.

' Another very important feature of the machine is the manner in which the parts in housing I0 are assembled or dismantled. It is only necessary to remove bolts I9, 31 and 54, and then the entire works can be lifted, piece by piece, out of the housing.

In the drawings and specification, there has vention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for braiding a cord and the like, having a plurality of strand carriers and having means for rotating all of said carriers bodily about a common axis, and also having means for rotating each of said carriers individually about its own axis, a housing encasing said rotating means, a fiuid supply, a filter for the fluid, and means for continuously forcing said fluid into said housing over said rotating means, through said filter and back to the fiuid supply to thereby keep the parts free from accumulated lint, grit, waste and the like.

2. In a braiding machine having a plurality of carriers, each of said carriers having a package thereon from which a strand is drawn for braiding cord and the like, means engaging the base of said carriers for rotating them about a common vertical axis during a braiding operation, a fluid supply, means for directing said fluid over said carrier rotating means to thereby keep the parts free from lint, grit, dust and the like, and means disposed between the base of each package and the carrier rotating means for preventing said fluid from contacting the package.

3. In a braiding machine having a plurality of carriers, each of said carriers having a package thereon from which a strand is drawn for braiding cord and the like, means engaging the base of said carriers for rotating them about a common vertical axis during a braiding operation, a fluid supply, a filter for the fiuid, means for directing said fluid over said carrier rotating means, through said filter and back to the fluid supply, to thereby keep the parts free from lint, grit, dust and the like, and means disposed between the base of each package and the carrier rotating means for preventing said fluid from contacting the package.

4. A braiding machine comprising a plurality of strand carriers, means for rotating said carriers about a common axis during a braiding operation, a fluid supply, a conduit between said supply and said axis, means for directing the fiow of fiuid from the conduit radially from the axis and over the rotating means, and means for pumping the fluid from said supply through the conduit and over the rotating means.

5. A braiding machine comprising a plurality of strand carriers, means for rotating said carriers about a common axis during a braiding operation, a fluid supply, a filter for the fluid, and means for circulating and recirculating said fluid over said rotating means through. said filter and back to said fluid supply.

6. A lubrication and lint removing system for a braiding machine of the circular orbit type, said machine having strand carriers, means disposed around said orbit for actuating said carriers during a braiding operation, comprising an oil supply, means for directing said oil over said carrier actuating mechanism to thereby keep the parts lubricated and to keep the lint removed therefrom, and means for filtering said oil to remove the lint therefrom, and means for return-' 10 ing the filtered oil to said supply.

WILLIAM C. WRIGHT. 

